Attendance

Attendance Office

The SVHS Attendance Office manages student attendance, absence reporting, early releases, tardies, attendance corrections, and attendance-related questions.

Regular attendance is important for student success. Families are encouraged to report absences promptly and to contact the Attendance Office with any attendance-related questions.

Report an Absence

Absences must be reported within five school days from the first day of the absence to avoid being marked unexcused or truant.

Parents/guardians may report an absence by:

• Completing the Absence Reporting Form
• Calling the Attendance Office
• Emailing the Attendance Office
• Sending a signed note with the student

Please include:

• Student’s first and last name
• Parent/guardian first and last name
• Relationship to the student
• Date(s) of absence
• Reason for absence
• Phone number for verification
• Parent/guardian signature, if submitting a written note

Excused and Unexcused Absences

Excused absences generally include illness, medical or dental appointments, court appearances with verification, religious observances, funerals for immediate family members, college visits when pre-approved and verified, and other reasons allowed by California law, SVUSD policy, or approved by administration.

Vacations, oversleeping, car trouble, and personal business are generally considered unexcused/personal absences unless approved by administration.

This is a general summary. For the full list of excused absences, please review the SVHS Student Handbook.

Early Release / Check-Out

If a student needs to leave school early, a parent/guardian should contact the Attendance Office at least one hour before the requested release time whenever possible. Once verified, the student will receive an off-campus pass.

Parents/guardians may request an early release by completing the Early Release Form, calling the Attendance Office, emailing the Attendance Office, or sending a signed note with the student.

Please include:

• Student’s first and last name
• Parent/guardian first and last name
• Relationship to the student
• Phone number for verification
• Date and time of release
• Reason for release
• Whether the student will return to school that day

Students who leave campus without following the check-out process may be marked truant.

Students who are ill during the school day should report to the Health Office. Students should not use their personal cell phones during class time to request early dismissal from a parent/guardian.

Tardies

Students are expected to arrive to class on time and be ready to learn. Tardies are excused only for doctor/dental appointments with a verified note from a medical office or court appointments with documentation. All other tardies are generally unexcused. Students who arrive less than five minutes late should report directly to class. Students who arrive five minutes or more late must check in through the Attendance Office and receive a pass before going to class.

Students and families are encouraged to check Aeries regularly for attendance accuracy. For full tardy procedures and consequences, please review the SVHS Student Handbook.

Attendance Corrections

Students and families are encouraged to check Aeries regularly for attendance accuracy. If a student believes they were marked absent or tardy by mistake, the student should pick up an Attendance Correction Slip from the Attendance Office and ask the teacher to verify the correction.

Flex attendance corrections must also be verified by the teacher. If a student is marked absent for Flex because they did not sign up, signed up for one session but attended another, or attended a session without being properly assigned or requested, the student is responsible for following the attendance correction process.

College Visit Absences

College visit absences must be pre-approved at least two weeks before the visit and require the appropriate form and verification/documentation from the college.

Additional Attendance Policies

Students with excessive absences, truancies, or tardies may receive attendance notifications, be placed on attendance monitoring, lose school privileges, and/or be referred to the Student Attendance Review Board.

Medical documentation may be required for illness-related absences lasting five or more consecutive school days or when a student demonstrates a pattern of chronic absenteeism, consistent with district procedures.

For full attendance policies, including excused and unexcused absences, doctor’s note requirements, excessive absences, make-up work, tardies, and release from campus procedures, please review the SVHS Student Handbook.